Teen allowed contact with his parents, whom he's accused of attacking

Seventeen-year-old John Vanderwielen is escorted from a Tippecanoe County courtroom Friday. Vanderwielen attended a hearing in which it was decided whether he would be able to have contact with his parents, who also are his alleged victims.(Photo: Ron Wilkins/Journal & Courier)

LAFAYETTE — Seventeen-year-old John Vanderwielen may contact his parents, whom he is accused of punching and stabbing early Jan. 26 inside the family's rural West Lafayette home.

When charges were filed in adult court earlier this week, prosecutors also filed a request for a no-contact order to protect the teen's parents from their son, who prosecutors say stabbed his father several times and punched his mother.

Vanderwielen's parents testified during the brief hearing Friday morning, asking Tippecanoe County Magistrate Judge Daniel Moore to deny the state's no-contact order request so they can talk with their son.

Asked if they were fearful of their son, both parents — Jody Vanderwielen and Doug Vanderwielen — said they were not.

"This was a drug-induced episode," Jody Vanderwielen told the court. "We need to be able to contact our son."

Doug Vanderwielen, who police reports indicate was stabbed in the neck, shoulder and cut above his eye during the attacks, also is not fearful of his son. Prosecutors say the teen attacked his father with a knife, then got a second knife and resumed the attack.

Prosecutors charged Vanderwielen earlier this week with attempted aggravated battery when assault poses substantial risk of death, domestic battery with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, domestic battery, battery resulting in injury, resisting law enforcement and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The teen's attorney, Steve Knecht, asked if the parents planned to post bond so their son can be released from jail.

"We will post bond for John when we find a residential treatment center," Jody Vanderwielen said. "We want to help our son."

They need to be able to speak with their son in order to find a treatment facility that best suits John Vanderwielen and his drug abuse, she said.

Knecht let the court — and the Vanderwielens — know that if John Vanderwielen seeks therapy at an out-of-state treatment center, the court will have to authorize it since the teen will not be allowed to leave the state under normal conditions of bond.

Prefacing his ruling, Moore wondered if the Vanderwielen's love for their son might be blinding their objectivity to the dangers their son might pose to them.

In his ruling, Moore said, "I'm not prepared to tell parents they cannot have contact with their minor son."

But Moore imposed conditions on the contact the Vanderwielens may have.

If John Vanderwielen, who was a sophomore in high school, is released on bond, he may not live with his parents while awaiting trial, which is set for July 9.

His parents, who are witnesses in the case against John Vanderwielen, may not discuss the case with their son.

With those conditions, Moore denied the state's request for a no-contact order, freeing up Jody and Doug Vanderwielen to communicate with their son.

Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.